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Demolition Hub speaks to incoming NFDC President, William Crooks On Friday 26 March, NFDC members attended the 80th Annual General Meeting of the NFDC online. A content-rich agenda included President, CEO and Strategic Projects reports, guest presenter in the form of Build UK CEO, Suzannah Nichol and the biennial ceremonial election results. Over 100 members tuned in as William Crooks, Managing Director of Derby-based Cawarden, took over the presidential reins from Keltbray’s Skills & Communities Director, Holly Price. Bromley Demolition’s Gary Bishop officially moved up to the role of NFDC Vice President and John Lynch, former Chair for NFDC Midlands & Welsh region won the members vote for the position of NFDC 2nd Vice President. Demolition Hub, media partner of the NFDC, caught up with the man himself, William Crooks, to find out more about the NFDC’s new President for 2021-2023 in this exclusive interview. Demolition Hub: As you take on the reins, is there anything you’d like to say about your predecessor, Holly Price? William Crooks: I’ve really enjoyed working with Holly. Holly has done a tremendous job in a very difficult time. She’s had all the hard work but missed out on the Convention, the AGM and many other interesting national and technical events. We’re not losing her, as she’ll still continue to sit on the NFDC National Council and Finance Committee, so I’m still looking forward to working with her over my term as President. Demolition Hub: What are your priorities for your presidency? William Crooks: I’m excited about increasing the profile of health and safety and we’ve agreed a budget to take that forward. Secondly, in a tough time when our members don’t know where we’re going to be 8 | DemolitionHUB Magazine
in a year, trying to keep the NFDC ship on a sound financial footing. I want the NFDC to continue to work closely with our Industry Service Providers (ISP) and encourage as many clients to use NFDC members as possible. Demolition Hub: 2021 marks the 80th anniversary of the NFDC’s foundation, do you see it as a critical time for the NFDC? William Crooks: The NFDC is going from strength to strength. I think we’re significantly more professional and a lot more advanced technically now. I don’t think the NFDC would have survived without a strong link between Scotland, Wales and the rest of the UK and that’s one of the reasons the Scottish, the Northern Irish and Welsh come to the National Council meetings – it’s vital that we get the full spectrum of experience and viewpoints. I like meeting people. I like to understand different aspects of the business and areas of the country
from Scotland right down to Bristol and London. We miss the social events because we don’t get the exchange of ideas from meeting likeminded people. We’ve got regional meetings as well and they’re well attended – using technology and adapting our way of working has enabled us to keep members engaged and connected despite COVID. It’s like any democratic organisation, you start off locally and then work your way up to the centre. We’ve got links with the National Demolition Association in the USA and the European Demolition Association as well. The Americans have adopted quite a few of the things that we put forward in our training because they recognise the high standards we’ve worked hard to set, the same in Europe. We’ve had a number of NFDC presidents who have become presidents of the EDA. demolitionhub.com